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Note: Pioneer and Beloved Father on gravestone Reuben Cook Spear
Originally from England, Reuben Cook Spear came to Lone Pine in 1874 at the age of 22. He partnered with blacksmith and wagon shop owner, A.C. Harvey, and eventually acquired the business from him. His heart was in the mines, however, and he eventually had interests in Beveridge, Burgess, Cerro Gordo, Darwin, Panamint Valley, Ubehebe, and in Nevada.
"Reub" hauled workers back and forth by pack train during the survey of the salt tram until the tram was well under construction. He also packed and distributed wire from Monache to Beach Meadows from the Tunnel to Kern River during the forest service Sierra telephone installations.
Groups of tourists were occasionally led into the Sierras by Reub. Animals were rented for one dollar a day and the packer worked for three dollars. During the Burgess mining boom, he packed heavy freight to New York Butte for a cent a pound. His mules carried ore down the road from the Santa Rosa mine to the leasers known as "Cloriders".
Hauling It In & Hauling it Out - Anecdotes of the old Time Packers
By Cecile Page Vargo http://explorehistoricalif.com/ehc_legacy/sept2014.html
Name: Ruben Spear
Birth Year: abt 1854
Arrival Year: 1871
Arrival Place: Ontario, Canada
Age: 17
Source Publication Code: 1823.21
Primary Immigrant: Spear, Ruben
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